Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method to selectively pair an in-vehicle display to a mobile device used by a passenger with an in-vehicle display system when seated in the vehicle, including receiving, by a processor of a vehicle, notification via a rideshare app of a request for a ride to a destination; in response, to the passenger entering the vehicle, initiating a pairing operation of a system of the vehicle with a passenger's mobile device based on the capture by the passenger using the passenger's mobile device of a QR code displayed in the vehicle; displaying a QR code for capture by the passenger's mobile device in the vehicle and initiating a wireless connection with the passenger's mobile device wherein the wireless connection is a secure connection based on an identification of the passenger and passenger location in the vehicle based on the QR code.

Abstract: A multi-function fuel delivery system and method of providing fuel delivery is provided that addresses space-related and cost related challenges as well as other challenges by combining a noise attenuating function, a hydrogen heating function, and a fuel supply rail capable of supplying hydrogen to multiple injectors within a single volume where a heat-transfer core utilizes an existing available internal volume of an attenuating volume or a fuel rail of a hydrogen supply manifold. A hydrogen fuel manifold, a hydrogen heat exchanger, and a fuel rail are housed in a single chamber such that a hydrogen fuel heating/cooling function, a hydrogen fuel noise/vibration attenuating function, providing the heat to the heat-transfer core, and providing the noise-attenuated H2 are performed in the single chamber.

Abstract: A method of implementing frequency division multiple access (FDMA) in a radar system of a vehicle includes transmitting a chirp signal from each of a plurality of transmit elements of the radar system simultaneously. The chirp signal transmitted by each of the plurality of transmit elements increases or decreases linearly in frequency over a frequency range over a duration of time and the frequency range of the chirp signal transmitted by adjacent ones of the plurality of transmit elements partially overlapping. The method also includes processing a reflection received based on reflection of the chirp signal transmitted by the plurality of transmit elements by one or more objects and controlling an operation of the vehicle based on locating the one or more objects.

Abstract: A lightweight and portable inflatable assembly includes an inflatable structural component and a chemical reaction based inflator device. The inflatable structural component includes a flexible housing defining a cavity. The inflatable structure is uninflated in a first operational mode and filled with an inflation fluid retained for at least 4 hours in a second operational mode. At least one primary and at least one secondary charge unit are in fluid communication with the cavity. The primary charge unit includes a first gas generant material configured to generate a first predetermined volume of inflation medium for filling the cavity, while the secondary charge unit includes a second gas generant material configured to generate a second predetermined volume of inflation medium for filling the cavity in the second operational mode. The second predetermined volume is ?about 40% by volume of the first predetermined volume.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a battery includes a middle layer made of an electrically conductive perforated mesh having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of interconnected electrically conductive segments and a plurality of perforations among adjacent ones of the interconnected segments. A top layer of an electrode material is disposed on the top surface, and a bottom layer of the electrode material is disposed on the bottom surface, such that the top and bottom layers are disposed in physical contact with each other through the perforations in the middle layer. A method of manufacturing the electrode structure includes providing the layer of perforated mesh, applying the top and bottom layers of electrode material to the top and bottom surfaces, and curing the top and bottom layers of electrode material using one or more of heat, electromagnetic radiation and convection to produce a layer of cured electrode structure.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle of determining whether the vehicle is operating in a road segment with a low visibility condition to cause a loss of input of sensor data to a vehicle controller that operates an assist feature, activating one or more adaptive alerts based on a road departure risk of the vehicle, and driver use of the assist feature in the upcoming road segment, wherein the road departure risk is determined by calculating a road departure risk index that compares an estimated vehicle path based on the vehicle state data with a probabilistic vehicle path for the upcoming road segment; and predicting whether will operate within an acceptable path in the upcoming road segment; and tracking the vehicle in the upcoming road segment based on vehicle navigation data to provide at least one adaptive alert based on a prediction of the road departure risk.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a battery is provided. The electrolyte composition includes a lithium salt in a carbonate-based solution and lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate present in the electrolyte composition in an amount from 0.1 part by weight to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: A method of forming a component having a cross-section with a bend radius includes providing a work-piece blank from press-hardened steel (PHS). The method also includes austenitizing the work-piece blank in a furnace via heating the strip of sheet metal to achieve therein an austenite microstructure, including soaking the work-piece blank for a predetermined amount of time. The method additionally includes quenching the austenitized work-piece blank to achieve therein a martensitic matrix microstructure with dispersed chromium-enriched carbide. The method also includes roll-forming the austenitized and quenched work-piece blank to generate the cross-section and the bend radius.

Abstract: A system for managing a set of fleet vehicles includes a central command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The fleet vehicles have one or more respective electronic components and respective vehicle controllers adapted to perform self-diagnosis of their respective electronic components. The central command unit is adapted to receive notification of the self-diagnosis and classify the respective electronic components as working ones and non-working ones. The central command unit is adapted to perform component matching, including polling inventory across the fleet vehicles. Working ones of the respective electronic components are selectively redistributed for reuse across the fleet vehicles. In some embodiments, at least one of the fleet vehicles is designated as a master vehicle and the central command unit is stored in the master vehicle. In other embodiments, the central command unit is stored in a cloud computing service.

Abstract: A method for preparing a metallic surface of a device includes executing iterations of a first cleaning regimen and executing iterations of a second cleaning regimen. The first cleaning regimen includes applying a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., an iso-octane solution, to the metallic surface of the device, executing a first sonication event on the device, and rinsing the metallic surface of the device. The second cleaning regimen includes applying a solution of chlorinated solvent to the metallic surface of the device, executing a second sonication event on the device, and rinsing the metallic surface of the device.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include: obtaining, via telematics systems of a plurality of vehicles, vehicle telemetry data as the plurality of vehicles travel through one or more geographic regions; transforming, from a computer processor, the vehicle telemetry data into a geohash encoded format pertaining to the one or more geographic regions; identifying, via a processor, a plurality of road junctions using the vehicle telemetry data that is transformed into a geohashed encoding; identifying, via the processor, a plurality of road segments using the vehicle telemetry data that is transformed into a geohashed encoding for the one or more geographic regions; and generating, via the processor, a road network mapping for the one or more geographic regions that includes the plurality of road junctions and the plurality of road segments utilizing the vehicle telemetry data that is transformed into a geohashed encoding.

Abstract: A mount system, such as for a vehicle antenna, includes a module with a ground. A fastener extends into the module. A retainer clip moves from an undeployed position to a deployed position by operation of the fastener. The fastener extends through a deployment ramp block. The deployment ramp block engages and guides the retainer clip from the undeployed position to the deployed position, by operation of the fastener. The mount system is configured to effect grounding of the ground to the product and to retain the module in position on the product.

Abstract: A battery system for a motor vehicle or other system includes a voltage bus with positive and negative bus rails, and first and second battery packs. The battery packs are arranged between and connected to rails. High-voltage switches are collectively configured to selectively interconnect the battery packs in a series or parallel battery arrangement. The switches include a pair of mutually-exclusive three-way/two-position contactors each having a series connection position and parallel connection position corresponding to the respective series and parallel battery arrangements. An electric powertrain includes an electrical load connected to the battery system, and a controller coupled to the switches. In response to a battery mode selection signal, the controller selectively transitions the contactors from the series connection position to the parallel connection position, or vice versa. A motor vehicle includes road wheels, a body, and the electric powertrain.

Abstract: An alloy composition is provided. The alloy composition includes silicon (Si) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, magnesium (Mg) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, chromium (Cr) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.15 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.3 wt. %, and a balance of the alloy composition being aluminum (Al). The alloy composition has an intermetallic phase content of less than or equal to about 3 wt. %. Methods of preparing the alloy composition and of processing the alloy composition are also provided.

Abstract: A method for distributing electrical power to electric motors in an electric powertrain, in which the electric motors are electrically connected to a shared power supply, includes receiving input signals via a supervisory controller. The input signals include a total torque request of the electric powertrain and electrical limits of the power supply. The method includes determining an open-loop torque command for each respective motor in response to the input signals. In response to the total torque request and the power supply limits, the controller also determines maximum and minimum power limits of motor, with the maximum and minimum power limits including a calibrated power reserve for executing a predetermined torque operation. The method includes transmitting the open-loop torque command and the power limits to a respective motor control processor of each motor to thereby control the torque operation.

Abstract: A method and associated device for joining a battery cell tab to a plurality of foils associated with a plurality of electrodes of a battery cell are described. This includes arranging the plurality of foils in a stack, and joining, via a first joining device, the plurality of foils, wherein the first joining device defines a joining region. A portion of the battery cell tab is arranged on the plurality of foils, and joined, via a second joining device, to the plurality of foils. The second joining device generates a weld joint that is encompassed within the joining region defined by the first joining device. In doing so, weld quality and strength of internal welds in a battery cell may be improved by reducing the occurrence of porosities and cracks in the foil/tab weld joints.

Abstract: Vehicle behavioral monitoring includes determining a measure of distraction of the operator of a target vehicle, characterizing the type or category of distraction, determining level of risk that the target vehicle poses, and invoking various responses including host vehicle notifications and evasive actions and external notification and information sharing.

Abstract: A tire radius monitoring system for dynamically determining a tire effective radius for each of the wheels on a vehicle is described. The system includes a GPS sensor, a plurality of wheel speed sensors, and a controller. The controller determines, via the GPS sensor, a velocity vector related to longitudinal velocity of the vehicle. The controller determines wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels, and detects a no-wheel-slip state for the vehicle wheels and the velocity vector from the GPS sensor. The controller determines tire effective radii for the plurality of vehicle wheels based upon the velocity vector for the vehicle and the wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels during the no-wheel-slip state, and controls vehicle operation based upon the tire effective radii.

Abstract: A method of making a reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes providing a subassembly including a separator layer and a current collector layer coupled to the separator layer. The method further includes providing an electrode ink including an electroactive material, a binder, and a solvent. The method further includes creating a reference electrode precursor by applying an electroactive precursor layer to the current collector layer. The electroactive precursor layer covers greater than or equal to about 90% of a superficial surface area of a surface of the current collector layer. The electroactive precursor layer includes the electrode ink. The method further includes creating the reference electrode assembly by drying the electroactive precursor layer to remove at least a portion of the solvent, thereby forming an electroactive layer. The electroactive layer is solid and porous.